Please check out the following link which will clarify how to set up a glass tank and probably will answer 90% of your questions.
http://ball-pythons.net/forums/showthread.php?201740-How-to-Setup-a-Glass-Tank-(20-long)-With-Pictures!&highlight=glass+tank+setup
On the topic of lighting: Ball pythons don't need a light schedule or even any LIGHT bulbs to be on (this should not be confused with HEAT bulbs). As long as there's daylight that should be plenty.
In regards to heat lamp: you can use either a ceramic heat emitter (which is pretty much a ceramic bulb that only produces heat with no light) or infrared heat lamp (which gives off that red or black light) If your heat lamp doesn't come with a dimmer, use a Home Depot or Lowes light lamp dimmer like this:
http://www.lowes.com/pd_316275-539-TT-300NLH-BL_0__?productId=3189423I
hope this helps at least a little bit. Definitely get a digital thermometer so you can monitor the temperature. Besides the Accurite thermometer, I'd also suggest to get a Digital Infrared Thermometer which you can just click around and get temps.
http://www.petco.com/product/115362/Zoo-Med-Repti-Temp-Digital-Infrared-Thermometer.aspx
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